title: Fireworks injuries in children: A prospective study during the festival of lights.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the epidemiology of paediatric firework-related injury in the urban population of Delhi during the festival of lights (Diwali).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective observational study, data were collected on the day of Diwali for two consecutive years, 2010 and 2011. All children with firework injuries coming to the emergency room were included in the study. Data were recorded in a predesigned proforma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 65 cases, 75% were males and 25% were females; most children were more than 10 years of age and majority (90%) of them were unsupervised. Half (49%) of the cases were due to misuse of the fireworks or erratic behaviour, among which the most common observed mode was igniting cracker while holding it (18 cases; 24% of total injuries), which led to injuries to the hand and palm. Device failure was the next common cause for firework injuries, including unexpected blast of the crackers and string bomb as the most common. Overall, the most commonly injured body sites were hands (62%), face (32%) and eyes (10%). Crackers and string bomb mainly caused injuries to hands; fountains and gunpowder caused injuries to the face. Sixty (94%) children were managed conservatively and 5 (6%) required skin grafting and tendon repair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend parental supervision especially for males, wearing non-synthetic and non-flowing clothes, promoting branded crackers and educational campaigns in schools to curtail the rising trend in firework-related injuries in the paediatric population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research and associated Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Narendra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bagri
authors.forename: Abhijeet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Sudha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandelia
authors.forename: Nand K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: Aditya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Sameek
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: Lalit Kumar
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Makhija
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D053834:Explosive Agents; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D053834:Explosive Agents
keywords: India; children; epidemiology; fireworks injury; urban